Hornatyia

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Hornatyia, also referred to as Hornatyia and Masovia, pronounced ([ɦɔrnætjɛɑː]), officially the Kingdom of Hornatyia and Masovia (Hornatyian: Kráľovstvo Hornatsko a Mazovsko), is a country in central Lusankya. It has a population of 79,041,483 and an area of 765,000 sq km. It borders Temuair and Gratislavia to the north, Tule to the east, the Basilene Empire to the southeast, the Republic of Bogoria, South Lake and Viridia to the south. The country is divided into 8 provinces and 2 regions, Hornatyia and Masovia. The capital and largest city of Hornatyia is Cizekporok, with a population of over 1 million. The population of the country is widespread, with a population density of 62 per sq km. The country is a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch is serving a largely ceremonial role as head of state, while the Prime Minister is the head of government who governs the nation by executive authority.

The first state that resided within the present borders of Hornatyia was the Duchy of Holyně, established in c. 81 BC. The Duchy experienced numerous invasions by the rival Mesek Slavs from the Principality of Masovia. The Duchy defeated each of the Masovian invasions, however the threat remained. The Duchy of Holyně reformed itself into the Kingdom of Hornatyia, led by Cizek I. The Council of Skrbovice marked the introduction of Paganism into Hornatyia. In 1052, Hornatyia conquered the Principality of Masovia, being renamed the Kingdom of Hornatyia and Masovia. The Kingdom continued its expansion for the next several centuries, with Paganism eventually being replaced by Catholicism in 1258.

This expansion came to a sudden halt in 1310, when war broke out between Hornatyia and the Basilene Empire. This war came to known as the Catastrophe. The destruction as a result of this war set the Kingdom back several hundred years. The first national legislature, the National Council of Hornatyia and Masovia convened in 1611. The Kingdom began a slow growth, with the economy transforming from outdated medieval economics to capitalism. The country began a rapid decline at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1938, the Socialist revolutions in neighboring Bogoria and Tule spread into Hornatyia. Communist visionaries led by Jan Kříž eventually overthrew the government and established the Democratic Republic of Hornatyia.

The new government suffered from widespread chaos in the country, as monarchist rebels assaulted government positions and food shortages plagued major cities. Following several programs to shore up agriculture output, the food shortages gradually came to an end. In 1953, Hornatyia joined the Otterup Pact, along with neighbors Tule and Bogoria. The country began mass industrialisation in the 1950s and 60s, with the government embarking on major projects such as hydroelectric dams and airports. The economy gradually moved away from the centrally planned economy to Hajekism, Volen Hajek's ideology. Hajekism advocated for portions of free market economics and centrally planned communism. In 1967, Hornatyia invaded the Basilene Empire, leading to a 5 week border war. Eventually both sides reached a ceasefire and retreated across the border.

Hornatyia's economic growth continued into the 1970s and 80s. In 1977, an Anikatian military base was established in Kopaciny, becoming a staple of Hornatyia's ties to the Anikatians. Despite Hornatyia's close ties with the more hardline Anikatians, Hornatyia was considered one of the more liberal countries in the Otterup Pact. The economic growth slowed in 1982, following the Central Bank's decision to raise the inflation rate. In 1991, Hornatyia entered a recession, with the inflation of the Hornatyian Koruna reaching 90%. In 1996, protests broke out in Cizekporok, eventually leading to the resignation of the Politburo in February 1997. The monarchy returned from exile in Temuair in May 1997 and a new constitution was accepted, turning Hornatyia into a constitutional monarchy.

Hornatyia returned to slight economic growth in 1999 and by 2001 had returned to pre-recession Gross Domestic Product. In 2002, Hornatyia joined the Rucesion Group, becoming the group's first central Lusankyan member. In 2003, the socialist bloc gained a majority in Parliament. They blocked the conservative bloc's attempts to cut funding to the National Health Commission or Anti-Corruption Commission. Hornatyia formally recognized the Basilene Empire in 2005, following negotiations in Utena, Bogoria. In 2015, Hornatyia refused to participate in the Sixth Aisling-Gratislavian War, however did not oppose Rucesion Group action against the Gratislav Republic.

Hornatyia is a highly developed country, with an advanced high income economy and high living standards. Hornatyia is commonly considered a member of the Free World, however some question the country's treatment of migrants from South-Central Lusankya. The country has extremely low unemployment rates, however varying rates of wealth inequality. The country boasts a highly industrialised economy, however a significant emphasis on agriculture still exists. The country is one of the most prosperous post-communist states in Central Lusankya, however this has been marred by violence in neighboring states. Hornatyia is a member of the World Council, Rucesion Group, Central Lusankya Commerce Initiative, International Trade Assembly, and the Global Monetary Fund.

History

Early history

The earliest settlement of Hornatyia had been by early modern humans during the Lower Paleolithic era. A number of different cultures were centered in the region, with various tools discovered in the modern day city of Jaktař. The earliest civilization known to have occupied Hornatyia was around 450–320 BC, mainly centered in southwestern Hornatyia. Southeastern Hornatyia was largely occupied by mountain dwelling people around 410-290 BC, however they were hit hard by a harsh winter in 288 BC and quickly died of disease or lack of food.

The first actual civilization was led by the Holyně Slavs, a group from the South Lusankya Slavs. They set up a city just south of the Svoříž planina (Svoříž plateaus), a mountain range in eastern Hornatyia. The Holyně Slavs slowly expanded their reach throughout eastern Hornatyia. During the latter half of the Holyně expansion, the Mesek Slavs, a group of Slavs that resided in the region of Masovia blocked the Holyně Slavs from moving through their territory. An eventual war led to the Holyně Slavs ending their expansion. In 81 BC, the Holyně Slavs established the Duchy of Holyně. The Mesek Slavs countered by establishing the Principality of Masovia, with both rivaling each other for influence.

First Kingdom

Cizek I was named Duke of Holyně in 210 AD, following the death of his predecessor Pavlíček II. Cizek renamed the Kingdom to Hornatyia, literally "Mountainous land", owing to the country's mountainous geography in the east. As King, Cizek introduced Paganism to Hornatyia following the Council of Skrbovice (324), installing Paganism as the official state religion following a royal decree in 325. The first official Pagan church was opened in Zavidov the following year. In 331, Cizek died and was succeeded by Mejzlík I after his marriage with Princess Krylová.

The Kingdom invaded the Principality of Masovia in 1052, conquering it in 1053. The country was renamed the Kingdom of Hornatyia and Masovia. The Hornatyians finally had direct access to the sea and the fertile farm land of the region. In 1231, a delegation from Rodarion arrived in Hornatyia. They established the first Church of the Romulan Catholic Church in the city of Svahová. Eventually by 1258, Catholicism became the dominant religion in the country.

In 1310, Hornatyia invaded the Basilene Empire following a massacre of Catholics by Orthodox mercenaries, with the event being called the Catastrophe. The ensuing war, lasting until 1335, resulted in the total destruction of north Hornatyia. A treaty was signed between Hornatyia and the Basilene Empire, ceding portions of the southeastern border of the country to Basilerium.

Olšar II was named King of Hornatyia in 1551 and he began to immediately to look outward in hopes of shoring of domestic support. Olšar sent a delegation to Rodarion, visiting with leaders of the Holy See. Hoping to modernize the country, the King established the first National Council of Hornatyia in Cizekporek. A mass baptizing was conducted in the Obec River outside Cizekporek, with millions participating. The King then began reforming the Hornatyian language, with "Old" Hornatyian phased out and replaced by "New" Hornatyian.

The economy was reformed from Medieval practices to a Capitalist economy. The first stock exchange opened in 1781 in Cizekporok. Privately established railway companies soon began building the country's national railway network. The country experienced rapid industrialization during this period.

The 20th century marked a rapid decline within the Kingdom, with agricultural output collapsing in 1902. Several large railway companies soon went bankrupt and were forcibly merged into each other. Wealth inequality grew massively over this period, with the wealth largely being in the hands of land owners and the Royal Family.

Socialist Revolution

In 1938, Bogoria fell to communist separatists and became the first communist nation in the world. The revolution soon spread to Hornatyia with the Workers' Party of Hornatyia, led by Jan Kříž, forming a rival government in Louka. The generally poorer Masovian populace aligned with the Communists and led rebellions against wealthy land owners.

The ruling monarch, Krejčí IV, demanded the end to these separatist activities. Royal Guardsmen ambushed a group of communist separatists in Meziluží, leading to the Battle of Meziluží. The aftermath led the rapid erosion of power of the monarchy. Cizekporok eventually was engulfed in massive protests. The King was forced to flee to Temuair. Jan Kříž soon arrived in Cizekporok and proclaimed the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Hornatyia.

Post-Revolutionary Hornatyia

Post-revolutionary Hornatyia was marred by widespread destruction and chaos. Food shortages were common, even in the agricultural hub of the south, as grain output had stalled during the two years of warfare. Jan Kříž became the de facto leader of Hornatyia, as the first constitution was enacted, granting the Workers' Party sole control over the political process in Hornatyia. Kříž began establishing collective farms in Hornatyia, with the intended goal of making Hornatyia self sufficient. Peasants, already suffering at the destruction of expensive farmland as a result of the civil war, refused to comply with orders to join collective farms. The government resorted to forcing the farmers into collective farms or arresting them if they refused.

Throughout the 1940s, several famines broke out, with the deadliest of all breaking out in 1948. Following the long 1947-1948 winter, Hornatyia's grain output was considerably low. The cold weather lasted into June, killing off vital livestock and crop. The extremely low output led to massive food shortages, resulting in Hornatyia to import excessive amounts of foodstuff from Bogoria, which itself was suffering. Over 500,000 people died in this famine, as previous famines had already damaged the food reserves in Hornatyia.

In 1954, Jan Kříž died in Cizekporok following a major stroke, being succeeded as First Secretary by Volen Hajek. Hajek introduced major reforms, emphasizing Hajekism as the new ideology of the party. Hajekism deviated from the economic policies of Kříž's regime, liberalising the economy and promoting greater human rights.

In 1951, following the formation of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Anikatia, Hornatyia sent a delegation to formally declare relations with the new communist state. Throughout the 1950s, Anikatia and Hornatyia formed a close relationship, with Hornatyia relying on Anikatian heavy industry heavily to rebuild the military and begin projects that were unthinkable in the 1940s. The 1950s marked a new era for Hornatyia, with Hornatyia a founding member of the Otterup Pact and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance. Despite Hornatyia's greatly improved situation, Hajek advocated for neutrality in major foreign affairs.

Hajekism entered full force in 1958, but was met with heavy skepticism from other senior Politburo members, however public criticism of the plans was largely unheard of. Throughout the late 1950s, Hajek introduced further reforms allowing small scale public discussion of the government and a certain extent of media criticism. By 1949, Hornatyia's industrial output outpaced agricultural output, largely thanks to Hajek's policies.

Radovan Bosák was voted as General Secretary by the Politburo, largely due to his young age, only 55 at the time, and commitment to follow Hajek's legacy. He also appeased several hardliners by vowing to enhance Hornatyia's foreign policy. Hajek displayed this by 1960, first by scrapping the peace treaty between Hornatyia and Basileria and refusing to recognize the border with the Basilerians. Between 1960 and 1963, Hornatyia greatly increased tensions with Basileria, first with minor skirmishes with the Basilerians at the border.

By 1966, these skirmishes escalated into the First Horn-Basilerian War. The war lasted between 14 March 1966 to 24 May 1966. Both sides fought bitterly, however only minor changes were made, largely in Hornatyia's favor. Large scale assistance was provided by Otterup Pact members, mainly Anikatia and Tule, however this proved futile as Hornatyia and Basileria signed a armistice on 22 April 1966. Fighting ended on 24 May, with Hornatyia suffering large numbers of casualties, however did move the de facto border, at points 20 km into Basileria.

Economic growth continued, with massive hydroelectric dams constructed on the Obec river. Other projects was the first nuclear power plant built in Úhrov in 1971. The plant's construction was assisted by Estovnian and Anikatian engineers and financing. In 1977, the first Anikatian military base was built in Kopaciny, along with a major shipyard.

The early 1980s largely marked communist Hornatyia's final years of prosperity. Tomáš Bílek became the new General Secretary in 1984 and began massive construction projects in Cizekporok. Bílek also loosened government control over religion, allowing Catholics membership into the Workers' Party. In 1986, Hornatyia had entered a period of stagnation, with GDP growth slwoing between 1984 and 1986. GDP growth had reached 0% in a report by the People's Congress in 1987.

In 1991, Hornatyia entered a recession as inflation rates reached 90%. Prices skyrocketed and food line,s that were non-existent for decades, finally appeared in Hornatyia. The economic crisis soon spread to neighboring economic crisis was linked with the crisis' in Tule and Bogoria. The fall of communism in Tule was largely seen as a foreshadow for events to come. Hornatyia closed its border with Tule in 1996, worsening the situation. In 1996, protests broke out in Cizekporok calling for economic reform and the release of political prisoners. In February 1997, the Politburo resigned amid massive protest. The National Council of Hornatyia approved a new draft constitution and called for a national referendum in May. On 7 May 1997, King Alexi II arrived exile in from Temuair to tour the country the week before the referendum. The new constitution was approved by 91.6% of the population, officially changing the country to a constitutional monarchy.

Second Kingdom

Hornatyia's first democratic elections were held on 29 August 1997, with the National Liberal Party winning the majority of seats in the Narodna Rada, Hornatyia's national parliament.

Geography

Prova river in northern Hornatyia.

Natural resources include coal, granite, limestone, sand, gravel, and clay. Most of these resources exist in the northern highlands along the border with Sturmia. The northern highlands hold the highest point in Hornatyia, at 360 m, while the lowest point exists in the Zanskosa Lowland at 45 m. Around 14,000 lakes are found in Hornatyia, while the two major rivers traverse south of the northern highlands.

The Narodna Rada is the unicameral national parliament, consisting of 181 seats. Political parties must gain a 5% majority to gain a seat in the Narodna Rada. Because of the small size of the legislature, most political parties are forced to make coalitions. Members are elected to the Narodna Rada with 2 year terms, following elections held every 2 years. The Prime Minister must be a member of the Narodna Rada and must be a member of the largest political party within the legislature.

Administrative divisions

Foreign relations

Military

The Royal Hornatyian Defense Force consists of the Hornatyian Ground Force, Hornatyian Air Force, Hornatyian Naval Force and the Hornatyian Coast Guard. The RHDF employs 205,000 active soldiers, with an additional 193,000 in reserve. The Ministry of Defense is a Crown Ministry in charge of the RHDF and is under control of the Prime Minister. The King is the ceremonial Commander-in-Chief of the RHDF, however the Prime Minister is the de-jure Commander-in-Chief. The military largely relies on a large domestic military defense industry, with a steady stream of imports from a few select countries. The military maintains its own intelligence service and operates large facilities for communications monitoring.

According to the 2015 census, Hornatyia is comprised of 63,426,251 people, of which 91% is Hornatyian. Estovakivans comprise the largest ethnic minority of 7%. Some unofficial estimates put the total population of Estovakivans much higher, at 24%. The justification for this is a large part of the unofficial estimates use ancestry, rather than the census algorithm for collecting data.

In the 1990s, a significant population decline occurred following the fall of communism in Hornatyia. This coupled with large portions of the educated working population leaving the country for work abroad, caused the population to fall 8% between 1990 and 1995. The 1996 Recession only deepened this crisis, with another 10% of the population leaving the country. Weak fertility rates only made the situation worse. By 2000, 30% of schools in Hornatyia had closed, with only 15% of preschools that operated in 1992, still operated in 2000.

A cathedral in Cizekporok.

In the late 2000s, the demographic crisis slowly began to resolve itself, with the country's birth rate exceeding the death rate in 2005. In 2007, the life expectancy was 76.3 years. In 2012, the average life expectancy was 78 years.

Religion

The constitution of Hornatyia defines the country as a secular state with freedom of religion guaranteed. Christianity is the largest religion in Hornatyia. The Romulăn Catholicism is the largest church within Hornatyia, with 85.2% of the population following the church. Estovakivan Paganism is followed by 7.6% of the population. Another 4.2% follow Orthodoxy Christianity. The remaining portions of the population follow other religions such as Judaism and Islam.

Only 2,931 Jews live in Hornatyia, largely centered in the capital, Cizekporok. During the communist era, the Jewish population largely left Hornatyia for other nations, mainly because of oppression from the government and inability to publicly practice their faith.

During Estovakiva's occupation of Hornatyia, Estovakivan Paganism was forced upon the population by forced conversions and torture. Despite this, only 7.6 of the population follow Paganism, most likely because of large portions of the populace converting back to Christianity after the gaining of independence.